Week 2: Late kickoffs due to heat

PHS vs. West game tonight cancelled

The Orange Belt went 1-2 in the first week of football, with Strathmore High School rolling over Farmersville for the lone win.

The Orange Belt went 1-2 in the first week of football, with Strathmore High School rolling over Farmersville for the lone win.

Both Monache and Lindsay look to bounce back after rough first starts, while Granite Hills gets to play its first game of the season.

Triple-digit temperatures affected teams’ practice this week and have also caused every team to now have an 8 p.m. start, except Monache which will begin at 7:30 p.m. All times are subject to change.

Kern High School District cancelled the West Bakersfield game against Porterville for all levels due to heat concerns. The game will not be rescheduled.

Farmersville (0-1) at Granite Hills (0-0), 8 p.m.

While Farmersville has only had the last week to prepare for Granite Hills, the Grizzlies have been preparing for the Aztecs since the beginning of the month under former defensive coordinator, Dan Williams. The new head coach is confident that his team can be successful against the Aztecs.

“Luckily for us, Farmersville is not a very complicated offense,” Williams said. “I mean it’s a Wing-t and yes, it’s got the misdirection and everything like that, but there are only an xamount of formations. You know they’re not giving us a whole bunch of different looks.”

Granite Hills defense should be solid, but its offense is still working out some kinks. They’ll face a Farmersville offense that gave up 366 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns to Strathmore in its 42-6 Week 1 loss to the Spartans.

Templeton at Strathmore, 8 p.m.

It comes as little surprise to anyone, but Strathmore’s running game was dominant in its 42-6 season-opening win over Farmersville, using multiple players

to pick up 366 yards and six touchdowns.

If Templeton wants to put up a fight against Strathmore, the Eagles will have to figure out a way to stop the Spartans bulldozing running back, Joseph Garcia. On just three carries, Garcia picked up 115 yards and two touchdowns. In the first quarter of their week one 58-12 loss to the Mariners of Aptos, Templeton gave up at least two rushing touchdowns of 44 yards or more.

On the other side of the ball, Strathmore’s defense is itching for their first shutout of the season after having five last year. Templeton could very well be their first. Monache (0-1) at Taft (0-1), 7:30 p.m.

Both Monache and Taft are looking for its first win of the season after suffering big losses last Friday. The Marauders lost 49-14 to Golden West, while the Wildcats were shutout 55-0 by Golden Valley.

Stopping the run should be Monache’s main focus after giving up seven touchdowns and 355 yards to Golden West’s run game.

Sophomore running back Aidan Galvan and senior wide receiver Montrece Fields each had a touchdown last week, showing that the Marauders have a balanced passing and run game.

That balance will work in Monache’s favor against Taft who was unable to stop neither of Golden Valley’s run or passing game. The Wildcats gave up four touchdowns in the air and four on the ground. Lindsay (0-1) at Avenal (0-1), 8 p.m.

After Lindsay’s 36-6 loss to Exeter last week, the feeling was that Exeter didn’t beat Lindsay, the Cardinals had just beat themselves.

A young team with a young line on both sides of the ball, sophomores and juniors starting or playing in a varsity game for the first time in their career were tested. Mental mistakes and missed tackles hurt the Cardinals, but they had some bright spots.

Lindsay’s defensive line proved effective at getting to the quarterback with three sacks from seniors Andrew Ventura and Lionel Figueroa, as well as sophomore Israel Trujillo.

Junior Aundrey Tapia led the team with 16 tackles and offensively, the Cardinals were able to convert on third down.

If the Cardinals can shake off last week’s first-game jitters, they have a chance against an Avenal team coming off a 7-0 loss to Mcfarland.

Last season the Buccaneers were shutout five times, outscored 254-92 and finished the season with a 3-8 record.